Ilan Mitchell-Smith

Biography

Ilan Mitchell-Smith is an American former child actor and academic best known for playing Wyatt Donnelly in the 1985 science-fiction comedy Weird Science. He later left acting and established a career as a scholar and professor specializing in medieval studies.

Early Life

Ilan Mitchell-Smith was born on June 29, 1969, in New York City. He began studying ballet at an early age and later received a scholarship to the School of American Ballet. While studying dance, he was discovered by a casting agent and was selected for a role in Daniel (1983).

He subsequently appeared in The Wild Life (1984), gaining more attention as a young actor.

Weird Science

Mitchell-Smith's most famous role came in Weird Science (1985), directed and written by John Hughes. He played Wyatt Donnelly, a shy and unpopular teenager who, together with Gary Wallace, uses a computer to create the seemingly perfect woman, Lisa.

The film, starring Mitchell-Smith, Anthony Michael Hall, and Kelly LeBrock, became an enduring 1980s cult comedy.

Later Acting Career

After Weird Science, Mitchell-Smith continued acting in films and television. His notable credits included:

• The Chocolate War (1988) — Jerry Renault
• Superboy (1988) — Andy McAllister
• Journey to the Center of the Earth (1988) — Bryan
• Identity Crisis (1989)
• The Equalizer — Television appearance

His acting career was relatively brief, and he eventually decided to pursue higher education rather than continue working full-time in Hollywood.

Academic Career

Mitchell-Smith earned an A.B. in Medieval Studies from the University of California, Davis, followed by a master's degree from Fordham University and a doctorate from Texas A&M University. His academic work focuses on medieval culture, particularly chivalry, gender, and medieval romances.

He subsequently taught at Angelo State University and later became an associate professor in the English department at California State University, Long Beach. His scholarship has also examined representations of medieval culture in film, television, and video games.

Personal Life

Mitchell-Smith married Susannah Demaree in 1995, and they have two children. Interestingly, he reportedly did not initially tell his future wife about his earlier acting career; she later discovered that he had starred in The Chocolate War.